Here’s what you need to know about the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
When did equestrianism become an Olympic sport?
While the history of equestrianism dates back to ancient Greece, the sport actually goes back to Paris, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Five equestrian events took place at the Paris Olympic Games in 1900, held at the Arena at Place de Breteuil. Women took part in dressage for the first time at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, and 12 years later the sport became fully mixed.
Only polo was featured at the London Games in 1908. At the Stockholm Games in 1912, the three events – show jumping, dressage and eventing – were included in the programme and have been featured ever since.
2024 Olympic medals: Who will come out on top in the medal count? Let’s track the medals in each sport to find out.
How are Olympic equestrian events conducted?
At Olympic level, equestrian is a mixed-gender sport spanning three different disciplines.
In steeplechase, the jockey and horse race against the clock by jumping obstacles, with a time penalty added up depending on how many obstacles they knock down during their run.
Dressage, in which horse and rider perform a series of choreographed moves set to music on a course and judges evaluate the smoothness and difficulty, caught the attention of Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart during the Tokyo Olympics and sparked a number of online memes.
Eventing combines dressage and show jumping with cross-country racing, taking place over a long course with natural and artificial obstacles. Versatility of both horse and rider is key to success in eventing.
All three formats incorporate a team element in addition to the individual competitions. Medals are awarded separately and team competitions are held separately.
The equestrian events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place at the Palace of Versailles, creating a historic atmosphere.
Horses are tested for performance enhancing substances and all horses must be at least 9 years old.
Top U.S. athletes in equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Boyd Martin is one of the most popular figures in American equestrian circles. Martin, 44, competes in eventing and has competed in four Olympic Games. The eventing team finished sixth in Tokyo, and Martin placed 20th individually.
Laura Kraut is also a four-time Olympic ski jumping team member, winning a gold medal in the team event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a silver medal in the team event at the 2008 Tokyo Olympics.
International situation of equestrian events at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Sweden, Germany, France and Great Britain tend to produce strong teams in all three sports, while the United States and Australia have also historically performed well in equestrian events.
Reigning individual jumping gold medalist Ben Maher (Great Britain) is recovering from a shoulder injury that potentially ended his equestrian career.
Equestrian events at the Palace of Versailles during the Paris 2024 Olympics
Versailles will host the equestrian and modern pentathlon events. A temporary open-air arena with several stands on either side will be set up on Place de l’Etoile Royale, in the heart of the palace gardens. Show jumping and dressage will take place there. The individual and team cross-country events in eventing will take place along the Grand Canal in Versailles.